High Impact Kitchen Remodeling Ideas

Kitchen remodeling might be one of the most fulfilling home renovation projects you will ever undertake. Decide whether to consult a designer who specializes in custom kitchens, or to trust your own Do-It-Yourself instincts to come up with clever kitchen remodeling ideas.

Understanding your design taste and kitchen space also helps a kitchen renovation run smoothly. Make the most of your investment by starting your research early.

Find Pictures of Custom Kitchens

Do you want a country kitchen or a contemporary kitchen? Do you have a small kitchen with barely enough work space? Or is there room for a kitchen island, where you can prepare meals, eat them, and socialize? Whatever theme you choose, remember to consider how your remodeled kitchen will complement the rest of your home's interior design.

Due to their line-of-sight location and their essential storage function, cabinets are among the most notable and important elements when remodeling a kitchen.

Kitchen Cabinet Design: Replace, Reface, or Refinish?

If your kitchen cabinets are structurally sound and made of a strong, hardwood, such as oak, maple, cherry, mahogany, or hickory, definitely consider keeping them. Replacing kitchen cabinets is often expensive. Refacing or refinishing kitchen cabinets is usually much more economical.

Refacing kitchen cabinets involves changing doors, drawers, and, sometimes, handles. All of these elements must be removed; cabinets are then refinished; new doors, drawers, and fixtures replace the old ones. Check out This Old House for a step-by-step article called "How to Reface Kitchen Cabinets." If you are an inexperienced Do-It-Yourselfer, consulting a professional kitchen designer or carpentry contractor may save time and money when refacing cabinets.

Refinishing or repainting cabinets is a much simpler task. After choosing your finish or paint color, consult the five-step article at Face Your Kitchen (see sources below) to guide you through the process.

Kitchen Lights

From hosting a dinner party to raiding the fridge for a midnight snack, lighting contributes to the aesthetics and safety of your kitchen. First, design your kitchen lights to illuminate pantries, sinks, and food preparation areas. Then, consider ambient and accent lighting.